Onion topper



Jan; 21, 1930. w. E. URSCHEL 1,744,251

ONI ON TOPPER Filed'Nov. 17, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet l Jan. 21, 1930. w. E.URSCHEL ONION TOPPER Filed NOV. 17, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 w. E. URSCHELONION TOPPER Jan. 21, 1930.

Filed Nov. 17, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet Patented Jan. 21, 1930 UNITED STATESPATENT? OFFICE ONION TOPPER Application filed November 17, 1926. SerialNo. 148,800.

This invention relates to improvements in stem shearing or toppingmachines, and more particularly to the type adapted to be used for oniontopping.

The objects of the invention are to provide a simple and efficientmachine of the class described; to provide an onion topping machinecapable of topping onions of all sizes and kinds; to provide a feedingtable comprising a plurality of revolving rollers adapted to feed onionsover a knife. Such rollers may be actuated in either horizontal orrotary directions as illustrated herein, but

preferably embodying the rotary motion; to

provide a reciprocally actuated knife, coacting with a plurality ofrevolvable feeding rollers for shearing the stems or onion tops; toafford a means whereby the onion tops will m be drawn between a pair ofrollers and snugly but firmly held until severed from the onion body;and to provide a machine of improved construction, affording debrisremoval and cleansing of the onion simultaneously with the toppingoperation.

Other and further objects and advantages of this invention will appearduring the course of the following description,which will be bestunderstood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1is a side elevation of the onion topping machine;

Figure 2 is an elevation of the onion topping machine, looking at thedischarge end;

Figure 3 is a plan view of the machine with the revolving cylinderremoved;

Figure 4: is a longitudinal cross-section through one end of therevolving cylinder, taken on the line A-A of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the typical manner in whichan onion may be fed to the knife for topping, and the direction of themovement of the members acting thereon;

H Figures 6 and 7 are diagrammatic views showing the position of anonion relative to the revolving feeding rollers before and aftersevering the top thereof; and

Figure 8 is a partial transverse sectional r view of the cylinder andendless belt drives,

taken on the line B-.B of Figure 3.

ous methods heretofore used in onion topping,

especially those manual operations incident to large size onions. Themachine proper is provided with a supporting frame 10, comprising a pairof longitudinally spaced end pedestalsrll, 11, suitably cross bracedtogether to form a rigid support for a rotary cylinder and drivingmechanism therefor which will be hereafter fully described.

Reference should now be had in detail to the driving mechanism. Suchmechanism comprises a transversely disposed drive shaft 12 mounted insuitable frame bearings 13 and 14 of the pedestal 11 at the dischargeend of the machine. Said shaft 12 extends beyond the lateral boundariesof the supporting frame and is provided at the outer end thereof andoutside of bearing 13 with drive pulley 15, said pulley being adapted tobe driven by a prime mover whereby the shaft 12 is rotated.

The opposite end of said shaft 12 is provided with a crank lever 16which is keyed thereto and which is adapted to transmit reciprocalmovement to a knife member, which will be hereinafter more fullydescribed. A bevel pinion 17 is keyed on to the shaft 12 adjacent theinner end of hearing 13, and is operably meshed with a bevel gear 18keyed on the forward end of a shaft 19. The hub of said bevel gear isbacked against a boss portion of the forward pedestal 11.

Said shaft 19 extends longitudinally of the machine and is supported inbearings formed integral with the respective pedestals 11, 11. Adjacentthe inside of said pedestals 11, 11 and mounted on the shaft 19 aresuitable gearing trunnion rollers. for driving and supporting a rotarycylinder 20. As the gearing and trunnion rollers and inner and outergear rings and trunnion races are the same at both ends of the rotarycylinder, the description and numbering of said members for one end willsufiice for and apply to both.

The driving gears and trunnion rollers may be separate members, butcould satisfactorily be fabricated integral with each other as acomplete unit and for the purpose of simplifying will be herein treatedas such. Said units comprise a driving gear 21, a trunnion roller 22, asmaller driving pinion 23, and a small trunnion roller 24, allconcentrically mounted and keyed to said shaft 19.

The rotating cylinder is guided and supported on trunnion rollers 22 and24 and driven from the gears 21 and 23 respectively. As both ends ofsaid cylinder are similar, description of one end will serve for both.

As will be seen from Figure 4, the cylinder comprises an outer gear ring25 integrally formed with a. trunnion race 26 and a ring portion 27.Said ring portion is provided with sockets or apertures adapted tosupport and afford rotation therein, the necked end portions of aplurality of longitudinally ex tending, rotating members 28.

Said rotating members form the body portion of the rotating cylinder 20and are so spaced radially as to permit the stem or top portions of theonions to project therethrough and yet afford sufficient support forpreventing the onion body from being pulled therebet-ween.

The gearing 25 is operably meshed with and driven from the drivingpinion 23 disposed on the shaft 19 whereby the cylinder proper isafforded rotary motion. The trunnion race 26 of said outer ring coactswith trunnion roller 24 for supporting said cylinder, and is guidedthereon by a shoulder of the ring portion 27. An inner ring projection29 is formed integral with the outer gear ring and is adapted to coactwith a corresponding groove 30, formed in the outer surface of the innergear ring 31, for guiding and keeping the respective rings in alignment.

The inner gear ring 31 is of smaller diameter than the outer gear ring25, and is disposed slightly forward thereof. A trunnion race 32 isintegrally formed with the gear ring 31. The opposite end of said gearring is provided with a wide bearing or trunnion face 33, upon which therotary members 28 rotate.

The gear ring 31 is meshed with and driven from the driving gear 21,disposed on the shaft 19, adjacent pedestal 11. The inner gear ring ispartially supported on the one side by the trunnion race 32, eoactingwith and guided by the trunnion roller 22, disposed adjacent the drivegear 21 on shaft 19.

A trunnion idler 34 is provided on the side of the cylinder opposite tothe trunnion roller 22. Said idler is mounted on a stud 35 extendingthrough a boss formed integral with the inner web of the pedestal 11.Said trunnion idler is in alignment with the respective trunnion roller22, and is adapted to assi st in supporting and guiding the cylinder 20by eoacting with the trunnion race 32.

It will thus be seen from the foregoing description that the cylinder20, including the rotating members 28 mounted in outer gear ring 25, isrotated at a lower rate of speed than the inner gear ring 31, due to thedifference in the gearing ratios of the drive pinions 23 and 21 to thegear rings and 31 respectively. The greater speed of the inner gear ringhaving the trunnion face 33 affords the necessary rotational effect torevolve the rotatable members 28.

When looking at the machine from the discharge end, the trunnion driveshaft 19 must be driven in a clockwise direction so as to impart acounter clockwise direction of retation to the cylinder. This rotationis essential only in the fact that the feeding and stem severingmechanisms are for convenience disposed on the side opposite to thegearing.

Tension means for keeping the cylinder in engagement with the trunnionrollers is provided on the same side of machine as the drive andcomprises a trunnion idler 40, mounted on a stud 41 on the forward endof a lever 42. Said idler is pivotally mounted on a pin 43 disposedthrough an upright member projecting from the top of the pedestal 11.

The smaller arm of lever 42 is forged to form a tension abutment bymeans of a spring 44 disposed intermediate the under side thereof and aboss projection on the bearing 13. Said spring is held in place by abolt extending upward therethrough from said boss and having its head inengagement with the upper surface of the smaller arm of lever 42.

This tension means affords sufficient force to be applied on the innergear ring 31 and to cause the trunnion face 33 to hear more firmlyagainst the inside of the rotating members 28 whereby to effect rotationof each individual member. Such rotative effect is enforced from a pointsomewhat below the severing knife which will be hereafter more fullyexplained.

An endless apron is provided to co-opcrate with the rotating members 28for properly feeding onions to the knife. Positive drives disposedtransversely of the machine are provided at each end of thelongitudinally extending apron 50. Said drives consist of a gear 51keyed to the shaft 19, meshing and driving the pinion 52 affixed to thecounter shaft 53.

Said shaft 53 extends parallel to the trunnion shaft 19 and is supportedat each end in suitable bearings formed in pedestals 11. 11. Sprockets54, 54 are keyed to said shaft 53 slightly inward of the respectivetrunnion. races. Said sprockets 54, 54 co-operatively drive flexiblechains 55, 55 which form triangular drives over idler sprockets 56, 56

upper side thereof so as to permit of its conformation with the rotatingmembers 28. In

L Figures 3 and 8 the chain drive is clearly illustrated. The idlersprockets 56,. 56 are parts of a takeup for chain slack. Said sprocketsare rotatively mounted on pins 59, 59 extending through bosses inbrackets 60, 60, which brackets are also pivotally mounted in straps 6161 rigidly affixed to the longitudinal cross braces of the; supportingframe.

As may be seen from. Figure 2, a spring member 62 is interposed betweenthe brackets 60, and the cross brace member of the frame on a boltextending therethrough and engaging said braces. The desired tension maythus be applied to the idler sprocket 56 for removing the slack in thechains 55, 55.

The sprockets 57, 57 are keyed on the stub projections 63, 63 of thelongitudinally extending roller 64. Said roller is supported by thestubs 63, 63, mounted in suitable bearings of the end pedestals. Theendless apron is trained over roller 64 and depends downwardly over andaround a second roller 65 which is also provided with stub projections66, 66 for supporting itself in frame bearings of the pedestals.

Said apron is flexible and will readily adapt itself to the shape of thecylinder with which it must co-operate. The apron is preferably ofrubber or impregnated fabric and should fit against the rotating memberswith proper clearance so as to permitthe onion tops to project outwardlybetween said rotating members and be drawn downwardly therealong as saidapron rotates in a directionopposite to that of said cylinder.

The apron serves as a holding or positioning means for the onionstems ortops so that severing thereof by the knife will be at the desired point,as clearly illustrated in Figure 5. Thus it will be seen that therotation of the rotating members just prior to and during the time thatthe stem passes over said apron, is particularly helpful in cansing theonion tops or stems to pass through the openings between said rotatingmembers and to be held in position by said apron so that said tops maybe severed from the onion body.

A knife 70 extends longitudinally of said machine slightly above theendless apron 50. Said knife is preferably of the saw tooth type andreciprocably moves in a direction longitudinally of the machine. The sawtooth type of knife is especially desirable as it affords immediatecutting or severing of the tops as soon as they come in contacttherewith.

The knife blade is secured to an angle frame 71 which in turn issupported and held in position by a pair of longitudinally spaced arms72, 72 afiixed to a sliding sleeve member 73 which is mounted on red 74. Said sleeve. with the arms 72, 72 are reciprocally moved back andforth with said knife.

The rod 74 is rigidly secured at each end thereof in bracket extensionsof the end pedestals. A U shaped bracket 75 is loosely mounted on therod 76 which supported by the bracket extension of the pedestalsslightly outward of the rod 74. The arms of the U shaped bracket areprovided with hub portions-7 7 77 through which the sliding sleeve 7 3'extends and in which said sleeve may be turned.

An upright projection 78 is formed integral with the top of said Ushaped bracket. and has a spring rod 79 extending therethrough. Saidspring rod is disposed parallel to and directly above the rod 76. Saidspring rod is provided with a torsion spring 80, the outer end of whichis fixed to a head 81 of said spring red, the other end being secured tothe outside of projection 78.

Torsional or rotative tension is afforded in this manner to the springrod 79. The end of said rod, which extends through the projection 78, isprovided with a pawl 82 firmly secured thereon by a set screw. Said pawlis accorded the torsional force set up by the spring and therebyimpinges the catch member 83, which is disposed intermediate the arms ofthe U shaped bracket 75 and fixedly attached to the sleeve member 73.

This spring arrangement will permit the knife and supports to be movedaway from the rotating member 11113116 event foreign matter finds itsway into the rotary cylinder. The knife 70 is prevented from riding tooclose to the rotating members 28 by the stop 84 disposed on and rigidlysecured to the sleeve 73 adjacent the arm of the U shaped bracket 75.

Said stop is provided with a finger 85 extending to one side thereof andadapted to engage the under portion of the forward end of the U bracketarm.

The finger is always impinging the underside of the U bracket arm andthereby keeps the knife 70 in the desired relation to the rotatingmembers 28. The knife may be turned upward for inspection or cleaningand may be held in that position by the pawl 82 sliding over andengaging the opposite side of the catch 83.

A pair of cars 90, are integrally formed with the U bracket 75 and onthe underside thereof, and these engage the pivot nut 91 which isloosely mounted on pin 92 extending through said cars. A connecting rod93 is disposed in a longitudinal plane below the rods 74 and 76, havingone end engaged by the pivot nut 91 and the other end pivotallyconnected to the arm of the crank lever 16. The connecting rod, beingactuated by the crank lever on the main drive shaft 12, affordsreciprocating movement to the knife 7 0 through the U bracket engagingthe catch disposed on the sliding sleeve 73, which sleeve is rigidlyattached to and moved with the said knife.

A charging chute 100 is provided at the feeding end of the rotarycylinder and may be either su )ported from the end pedestal 11 or byoutside supporting members. A chute 101 is disposed at the discharge endof the cylinder and is adapted to properly guide the dischargetherefrom. The discharge chute is preferably supported from the endpedestal.

A ho per 102 is provided in the lower portion of the supporting framebeneath the rotary cylinder. This hopper is formed with a neck forconnection to a suction tube. Air draft or suction removing thetoppings, outer onion skins and dbris from the onions that fall intosaid hopper, affords a higher speed of operation and consequentlygreater production.

As may be seen from Figures 6 and 7, the principle herein involved maybe utilized in a slightly modified manner.

In the modified form a feeding table comprising a plurality of rotatingmembers 110 may be provided and be reciprocated transversely to a knifemember 111. A stationary table 112 is disposed below said rotatingmembers and. serves to force the to or stem of the onion that dependsthrough t 1e spaces of the rotating members in a backward direction, sothat the top or stem may be properly severed from the onion bulb whenthe feeding table moves over the knife 110, as is well illustrated inFigures 6 and 7.

The machine should be mounted at a slight incline so that the onions orother vegetables of like nature, by gravity, will gradually work throughthe cylinder from the charging to the discharging end and be toppedduring passage therethrough. Simultaneously with the toppin operationand during the time which the o jects pass through the cylinder, alldbris and outer skins are removed and thereby provide a cleansed andmore merchantable product with a greatly increased production.

Although I have shown and described my invention in one embodiment andin a modified form, it will be understood that the construction andarrangement of the various parts may be altered without departing from Ithe spirit and scope thereof. Furthermore,

I do not wish to be construed as limiting myself to the specificconstruction illustrated herein, excepting as may be specificallylimited in the appended claims.

The utility of the suction apparatus is very pronounced for the purposeof drawing the onion stems through the longitudinal spaced apart membersso that the traveling apron may thereby engage the stems to draw themoutwardly for the purpose of their removal when coming in contact withthe reciprocat ing knife. Of course, there is an additional utility forthe suction device in that it assists in withdrawing the severed tops orstems from the machine.

I claim:

1. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of afeeding table comprising a plurality of longitudinally disposed membersin spaced relation adapted to permit the tops or stems of onions or thelike to protrude therethrough, means coacting with said longitudinallydisposed members for engaging said tops or stems when protrudingtherethrough, and a knife co-operating with said feeding table forsevering the protruding tops or stems of said onions or the like.

2. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of afeeding table comprising a plurality of longitudinally disposed membersin spaced relation adapted to permit the tops or stems of onions or thelike to protrude therethrough, means coacting with said feeding tablefor forcing the protruding tops or stems in a direction opposite to thetravel of said table, a knife co-operating with said feeding table forsevering the tops or stems of said onions or the like, and means formoving said feeding table transversely of said severing means.

3. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of afeeding table comprising a plurality of longitudinally disposed rotatingmembers in spaced relation and adapted to permit the top or stemportions of onions or the like to protrude therethrough, means forrotating said members, a knife forming a severing mechanism, meanscoacting with said rotating members for forcing said tops or stems in adirection opposite to the travel of said table, when said protrudingtops or stems approach the severing mechanism adapted to shear the topor stem portions of said onions or the like, and driving means foractuating said feeding table transversely to said severing mechanism.

4. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of asupporting frame, a rotary cylindrical feeding table disposed in saidframe, said table comprising a plurality of longitudinally extendingrotating members in spaced relation and adapted to permit the tops orstems of onions or the like to protrude therethrough, means for rotatingsaid cylinder and for simultaneously actuating said rotating members,means co-operating with said rotating members and adapted to hold theprotruding top or stem portions against the adjacent and followingrotating members, and a reciprocating knife disposed in advance of theco-operating means and parallel with and adjacent to said rotatingmembers, said knife being adapted to shear said tops or stems of onionsor the like as said protruding portions pass said apron for roating saidmembers and to force knife.

5. I11 an apparatus of the character described, the combination of afeeding table comprising a plurality of longitudinally disposed membersspaced apart to permit the tops or stems of onions or the like toprotrude therethrough, said members being adapted to be rotated tofacilitate the projection of said tops or stems therethrough, meanscoacting with said longitudinally disposed members for engaging saidtops or Stems when protruding therethrough and for rotating saidlongitudinally disposed members, and a knife for severing the protrudingtops or stems of said onions or the like.

6. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of afeeding table comprising a plurality of longitudinally dis pose-drotatable members spaced apart to permit the tops or stems of onions orthe like to protrude therethrough, an apron coacting with saidlongitudinally disposed members for engaging said tops or stems whenpro- 1 truding therethrough and for rotating said rotatable members todraw the stems or tops outwardly, and means co-operating with saidfeeding table for severing the outwardly protruding tops or stems ofsaid onions or the like.

7. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of afeeding table comprising a plurality of ring members adapted to berotated in one direction, a plurality of longitudinally disposedrotatableniem ers spaced apart to permit the tops or stems of onions orthe like to protrude therethrough and mounted in said ring members, anendless apron coacting with said longitudinal. members for drawing theprotruding tops or stems in a direction opposite to the travel of saidtable and for actuating said longitudinal men'lbers in a directionopposite to the rotation of said ring members, and means co-operatingwith said feeding table for severing the tops or stems of said onions orthe like.

8. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of afeeding table comprising a plurality of longitudinally disposed membersspaced apart to permit the tops or stems of onions or the like toprotrude therethrough, means coacting with said feeding table fordrawing the protruding tops or stems in a direction opposite to thetravel of said table, and a knife adapted to be reciprocatedlongitudinally of said feeding table for severing the tops or stems ofsaid onions or the like.

9. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of afeeding table comprising a plurality of longitudinally disposed rotatingmembers spaced apart to permit the top or stem portions of onions or thelike to protrude therethrough, an endless said tops or stems in adirection opposite to the travel of said table when said protrud- .ingtops approach a severing mechanism, and a severing mechanism adapted toshear the protruding tops or stems of said onions or the like, saidapron being adapted to provide a carrier for discharging the severedtops or stems from said apparatus.

10. An onion topper comprising a body,

having rotating ring members and longitudinally disposed rotatablemembers mounted in said ring membersand spaced apart to permit the topor stem portions of onions to protrude, means for rotating said ringmembers in one direction, an endlessapron adapted to coactwith saidrotatable members whereby to rotate said members in a direction oppositeto the rotation of said ring members and to draw the onion tops or stemsin a direction opposite to the travel of said ring members, and asevering member adapted to reciprocate longitudinally of saidlongitudinal members whereby to sever said tops or stems.

11. The device described in claim 10 and in which said endless beltprovides a carrier for removing the severed tops or stems from thedevice.

12. The device as described in claim 10, having in combination therewithsuction means and in which said endless apron is adapted to convey thesevered tops or stems to a position whereby said. suction means mayremove said parts from the device.

13. An onion topper comprising means for imparting movement between aseries of rollers, a member cooperating with said rollers for drawingonion tops between adjacent rollers, and means for severing the topsheld between said rollers and said cooperating member.

I I. In an onion topper, a series of separated supports, means forsupporting onions on one side of said supports to permit of the topsprotruding therebetween, cooperating engaging means on the other side ofsaid supports for drawing said stems or tops beween said supports, meansfor producing movement in said supports and said cooperating means inopposite directions, and a knife for severing the tops or stems from theonions when drawn intermediate adjacent supports.

15. In an onion topper, the combinat' of a feeding table comprising aplurality of longitudinally disposed members spaced apart to permit thetops of onions to protrude therethrough, a flexible and elastic beltlikemember in juxtaposition to said lengitu dinal member and cooperatingtherewith to draw the tops of onions through said longi tudinallydisposed members, and a knife at tached to be reciprocatedlongitudinally of said feeding table for severing onion tops heldintermediate said belt-like member and said longitudinally disposedmembers.

16. In an onion topper or the like, spaced apart members through whichthe tops or stems of the onions may protrude, a member for engaging theprotruding tops or stems, means for removing the protruding tops orstems, and suction means adapted to draw such tops or stems outwardlythrough the spaced apart members before said tops and stems come intocontact with said engaging member.

17. In an onion topper, spaced apart members through which the tops orstems of the onions may protrude, means for causing said tops or stemsto protrude, a knife for re moving the protruding tops and stems, andmeans for rendering said knife inoperable upon contact with a foreignobject.

WILLIAM E. URSCHEL.

